Digital Cameras - Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ1 Test Images

I've begun including links in our reviews to a Thumbnail index page for the test shots. The data on this page includes a host of information on the images, including shutter speed, ISO setting, compression setting, etc. Rather than clutter the page below with all that detail, we're posting the thumbnail index so only those interested in the information need wade through it!

To view the entire exposure series from zero to +1.3 EV, see files LZ1INMP0.HTM through LZ1INMP4.HTM on the thumbnail index page.

ISO Series:
The Panasonic LZ1's image noise is a little high, even at the lower ISO settings. At ISOs 200 and 400, noise is much more pronounced, with bright pixels, and anti-noise processing at ISO 400 produces almost an "Impressionist" effect. That said though, ISO 200 photos make fine-looking 8x10 inch prints. ISO 400 shots look blotchy at 8x10 (but probably OK to hang on a wall and view from a distance of a foot or more). At 5x7 inches, ISO 400 shots look much better, and would probably be acceptable to most consumers.

High resolution and strong detail, but a limited dynamic range. Very soft corners.

This image is shot at infinity to test far-field lens performance, and to present a near-infinite range of detail to the camera. NOTE that this image cannot be directly compared to the other "house" shot, which is a poster, shot in the studio.

Sharpness/Detail: Good detail and sharpness, especially in the center of the frame.

Sharpness in Corners: Bad in the top corners, though the lower corners look much better. Quite a bit of softening up top though.

Color: Good.

Dynamic Range: A little low, some loss of detail in both highlights and shadows.

Detail lost to anti-noise processing?: Some, in the shadowed brick patterns.

Mediocre low-light performance in normal exposure modes, but acceptable results in the camera's "Night" scene mode. Should work OK for typical city night scenes, but be sure to use a tripod to avoid camera shake!

Exposure limit: 1/4 foot-candle at ISO 400. (About 1/4 as bright as typical city street lighting at night.) 1/2 foot-candle at ISO 200, and one foot-candle at ISO 100. At ISO 64, images were dim even at one foot-candle. Though with Night mode, images are bright to 1/2 foot-candle at ISO 64.

Noise Levels: On the high side, particularly at lower light levels and higher sensitivity settings.

Detail loss to anti-noise processing?: Noticeable at one foot-candle, and increasing from there.

General Notes: The Panasonic LZ1 struggled a bit in our low-light testing, having problems producing adequate exposures in its normal shooting mode. This was largely the result of the one second maximum exposure time in normal mode. Night Mode fixes the ISO at 64, but lets exposures stretch to 8 seconds, which produced good results down to a light level about a quarter as bright as typical city street lighting at night, which was also about the limit of the LZ1's autofocus system. Bottom line, the camera should work fine for typical city night scenes, but be sure to use a steady tripod to avoid camera shake on the long exposures.

(Note: If you'd like to use a light meter to check light levels for subjects you might be interested in shooting, a light level of one foot-candle corresponds to a normal exposure of two seconds at f/2.8 and ISO 100.)

1 fc
11 lux

1/2 fc
5.5 lux

1/4 fc
2.7 lux

1/8 fc
1.3 lux

1/16 fc
0.67 lux

ISO
64

1 sec
f2.8

1 sec
f2.8

1 sec
f2.8

1 sec
f2.8

1 sec
f2.8

ISO
100

1 sec
f2.8

1 sec
f2.8

1 sec
f2.8

1 sec
f2.8

1 sec
f2.8

ISO
200

1/1 sec
f2.8

1 sec
f2.8

1 sec
f2.8

1 sec
f2.8

1 sec
f2.8

ISO
400

1/3 sec
f2.8

1/1 sec
f2.8

1 sec
f2.8

1 sec
f2.8

1 sec
f2.8

Night
Mode
(ISO
64)

2 sec
f2.8

4 sec
f2.8

8 sec
f2.8

6 sec
f2.8

8 sec
f2.8

Flash Range Test

Underexposed at eight feet, with decreasing intensity as the distance increased.

OK resolution for a four megapixel camera, 1,050 lines of "strong detail." Average barrel distortion at wide angle, virtually no distortion at telephoto. High chromatic aberration, particularly at wide angle, and strong blurring in the corners.